Prolife NZ is today welcoming the news that Right to Life will again be representing the unborn in the Court of Appeal. On 20 August 2009 The Abortion Supervisory Committee (ASC) filed an appeal with the Court of Appeal against Justice Miller’s 9 June 2008 judgement. Right to Life will once again cross-appeal on behalf of the unborn children in New Zealand who are unable to speak for themselves.

In his 9 June 2008 judgement, Justice Miller stated that ‘There is reason to doubt the lawfulness of many abortions authorised by certifying consultants,’ and ‘The [ASC] has misinterpreted its functions and powers under the abortion law.’

“Why is the ASC so desperate to reject the Justice’s judgement in a bid to retain what is essentially abortion on demand?” asked Prolife NZ National Director Andy Moore. “The ASC was established by Parliament to ensure that New Zealand’s abortion law is carried out as it was originally intended.”

In his 9 August judgement, Justice Miller stated that ‘the Committee can be expected to administer the law as Parliament intended’. However the ASC has expressed it’s decision to ignore its duty and instead appeal the Justice’s findings.

“The very title of the abortion law states that ‘full regard must be given to the rights of the unborn child’, why then is the ASC reaching into the public purse to fund its campaign for the retention of unlawful and unethical abortions in New Zealand?” said Mr. Moore.

Prolife NZ is a youth-based pro-life group who are appalled at New Zealand’s high number of abortions. They are today calling for the Crown to uphold the human rights of unborn children who are the weakest members of society.

ENDS

For more information, contact Prolife NZ:
Andy Moore – National Director
Mob. 021 1140 751 Email: andy@prolife.org.nz

Prolife NZ is today welcoming the 3 August decision by Justice Miller to decline from issuing declaratory orders on the case, Right to Life vs. The Abortion Supervisory Committee (ASC).

In his most recent judgement, Justice Miller further reinforces the shameful fact that he outlined in his July 2008 judgement; that the ASC has been permitting a large number of unlawful abortions to be committed over a period of ‘many years’.

“Justice Miller states that since the ASC is supervised by Parliament, declaratory orders are unecessary as he expects the ASC to now comply with the judgements he has made with Parliamentary oversight”, said Prolife NZ National Director Andy Moore. “This is great news for both unborn children and women throughout New Zealand as it means that the abortion law is set to be applied more closely to the original intent when it was passed.”

“Not only does abortion take away the future of an unborn child, but it is also proven to be harmful to women, both psychologically and physically. Any move to address New Zealand’s unacceptably high abortion rate is a positive step forward,” said Mr. Moore.

In his judgement, Justice Miller states that ‘the Committee can be expected to administer the law as Parliament intended, without need of formal orders.’ Prolife NZ trusts that the Committee will seek to address their previous record of non-compliance with the law due to a misunderstanding of their function outlined in the law.

Prolife NZ calls on Parliament to ensure that the ASC is applying New Zealand’s abortion law correctly as the Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion Act, 1977 asserts that full regard must be given to the rights of the unborn child.

ENDS

For more information, contact Prolife NZ:
Andy Moore – National Director
Mob. 021 1140 751 Email: andy@prolife.org.nz